124 S Gaines Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387

Great learning experiences, great teachers, very safe

We have 2 children at SPES who initially attended a local private school for multiple years of preschool and kindergarten. We are pleased with the experienced teachers at SPES, as well as the great ratio of students to teachers and the availability of Pre-K on campus. Our child was able to be screened for the gifted program and for speech therapy easily and quickly. The new building is exceptional, especially the media center. The school leadership and teachers communicate well with parents. Our children have gotten out of the neighborhood bubble and now have friends with different abilities, skin color, family makeup, and financial situations. This was not the case in the private school they attended. Our children do not get assigned homework (yet?).

When I attended Crain’s Creek, I was the subject of multiple acts of violence and bullying. Even having cameras, I was attacked in the region where they were not available. Even with multiple violations, the school did absolutely nothing about it. I eventually transferred schools, and learned what a good learning environment looked like. Crain’s Creek has too many students to effectively teach, and to keep bullying at bay. The week after I left, there were threats of weapons, and a student almost died from injuries received during a fight at the hands of a student. The teachers effectively communicated the core standards of their classroom and provided some useful information. I always found them accommodating, however I have always been considered far advanced for any grade level. The classrooms were by far the safest space on campus, and I will forever thank the teachers for providing me with a safe haven.